Harp Buying Guide

Buying a harp can be a challenging prospect when you aren’t sure what to look for. Here are some suggestions to help you through the process.

When purchasing a harp, you will need the instrument, a tuning key, several essential accessories and a few optional ones.

Here is an itemized list:

1. Pedal or Lever Harp: Choose either a lever or pedal harp

2. Tuning Key: Tuning keys are required in order to tune the instrument. Every harp has its own specific tuning key. Make sure you get the proper one or it may not fit!

3. Tuner: An electronic tuner “hears” the pitch of a string and determines if it’s in tune.

4. Tuning Key Holder (optional): Attaches to the back of the harp and holds the tuning key in place so that it’s always there when you need it. Tuning key holders are helpful but not essential.

5. Harp Bench: Make sure your bench is ad-justable to obtain the appropriate height.

6. Music Stand

7. Transport Cover: When moving your harp you need a protective cover to prevent any potential damage.

8. Harp Dolly (optional for Lever Harps): Ped-al harps are heavy and cannot be carried like a lever harp. Harp dollies are used instead to move a pedal harp. There are also dollies made for lever harps if you find the instrument is too heavy.

9. Dust Cover (optional): This is a cover made in a thinner material that protects the harp from dust when not in use. This cannot replace a transport cover.

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What to look for:

Pedal or Lever Harp: A pedal harp has pedals at its base that change the pitch of a string. The pedals act like the black keys of the piano and can make each string flat, natural or sharp.

A lever harp does not have pedals and in-stead raises the pitch of a string with a lever attatched to each string. A lever harp can only sharpen a string and thus cannot play in every musical key. Because of this, pedal harps are necessary to play in an orchestra. cont’d on next page

Harp Buying Guide (pg 2)

Which Harp Do I Need? When first starting out, most students do not require a pedal harp and should purchase a lever harp. Most children require a lever harp as the pedal harp is too big for them to hold.

34 Strings (or more): A full-sized pedal harp is 47 strings. Lever harps are smaller and thus have less strings. Look for a harp that has at least 34 strings (you will need to up-grade to a larger harp if you purchase a harp with less than 34 strings, so it makes more sense economically to purchase a bigger size). If there are more than 34 strings, that’s great!

Fully levered (for lever harps): Make sure a lever harp is fully levered, which means there is a lever on each string.

What kind of levers? We like Camac levers, however there are many other great brands. If the harp you like does not have Camac levers, chances are it’s perfectly fine!

Good Harp Brands: Dusty Strings, Camac Harps, Salvi, Lyon & Healy. Smaller harp builders also make wonderful instruments, so don’t shy away from the smaller, lesser known companies and individuals.

Can I rent? If budget is an issue, renting a harp is a viable option. Many stores have rent-to-buy options or you may choose to rent a harp from a private individual.

Can I Buy a Used Harp? Yes! Make sure to inquire about any repair work that has been done. Harps that have had serious recon-struction need to be appraised by a profes-sional before purchasing.

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Where to Buy?Harp Connection

Virginia Harp CenterHarp Column (Classifieds)

Harp Mall (Classifieds)

Suggested ModelsLever Harps

Dusty Stings Ravenna 34 Dusty Strings FH36H

Pedal HarpsCamac Little Big Blue